Learn with Comfizz

With April coming up, which is Bowel Cancer Awareness month, I felt it would be a good time to write a post on the importance of getting checked if you are worried about changes in your bowel habits. Personally, I know my body so well so have a good idea of spotting when something just isn't right for me. It doesn't take me long to reach out to a doctor if I am worried & I think it's so important to remember that nobody deserves to feel in pain or struggle with their health. It's also important to remember that there are so many treatments available out there for a wide range of health problems & often, the chances of...

Hi I’m Stephie; I have four chronic health conditions and work in the community as an adult support worker – so being safe and protected has been a huge thing for me and my family. I’m however not medicated so I wasn’t required to shield as per government guidelines; I have also worked at least five days a week since the first lockdown began, not to mention homeschooling last year when my husband was on furlough. I’m classed as a key worker yet I have had the biggest fluff on when it came to getting my coronavirus vaccine. Within my job I look after the elderly and vulnerable and the last thing I want to do is catch something and...

Seeing your child ill, whatever age, is never easy. As a mother, I felt I'd failed Amy, It was my fault she was born with this illness. Amy had frequent problems which intensified as she started Junior School. She had school work sent home many times as she was so weak she couldn't attend her classes.

Dating has been something that has always been a worry for me, even before I had my stoma surgery in 2011. Having Crohn’s Disease, frequent accidents, wind & a lot of pain meant that I never felt super confident with dating or intimacy, but it was something I always pushed past because Crohn’s wasn’t going to take everything from me or leave me powerless, no matter how hard it tried. I’ve been in several relationships in my life & seen people in between for a few dates which haven’t gone anywhere. I’ve been on dating apps, met people online, met people through school and common interests & also through friends.

I have written many times on my personal blog and on here about the fact you don’t have to keep using the same ostomy appliance as you were sent home with from hospital. You don’t have to stick with any bag etc that doesn’t suit your needs and there most certainly is a bag out there for everyone! Sometimes we just have to look a little harder for them. I am having issues with peristomal skin and leaks; the leaks are causing contact dermatitis and I am having a really crappy time with it all if you can excuse the pun. My stoma nurse has been fantastic sending me samples, doing house calls and thinking about me after hours and...

Today is National Hug Day. For nearly a year now, like so many of us, I’ve missed being able to hug loved ones. Being able to hug boosts people in so many ways & does so much for a lot of people mentally. Although I completely understand why we can’t and it’s better to be safe, it’s also okay to be sad at the fact that we can’t. Things are definitely feeling strained and difficult again at the moment. Throw not being able to hug people in the mix which often helps me when I’m feeling low and it can get overbearing. Thankfully, there are other things that you can do, especially in the current climate, to make someone’s day....

Having a stoma comes with its own ups and downs. Many of us have different experiences however I can imagine most of us experience the same problem with having a stoma – the horrible red, itchy and/or sore skin around the stoma (known as Peristomal Skin) Peristomal skin problems are usually very common however these are not normal, but the good news is that these can be resolved. As the saying goes, prevention is better than the cure, but if you notice any bumps, discolouration, red or purple patches in the peristomal area and you skin is sore, itchy, or painful, then this may be a sign you have a peristomal skin problem. If you notice any of these symptoms,...

Inflammatory Bowel Disease for me growing up came with its own stigma other than the taboo of being primarily a poo related disease and that is put plainly the word disease. According to the Oxford dictionary the word disease is defined as: Noun “A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of a physical injury”. I got sick at the age of 10 and was diagnosed around the age of 12 with Ulcerative Colitis and there has been so many parts of growing up chronically sick that were difficult; but there was one thing that really was...

Like I said in my last blog post, Christmas 2020 is definitely going to be one of a kind (not in the way we want for sure – but hopefully we can all stay safe!) I don’t know about you, but I’ll definitely be indulging in a glass of gin, wine, prosecco or two this Christmas. Let’s start by saying that I am in no way a big drinker. I never have been and never will be. I do however enjoy a drink when my body allows it & I’m definitely partial to a glass of gin and lemonade. My current gin is Whitley Neil Blackberry & it is delicious. I never drink alcohol on an empty stomach and always...

Christmas 2020 is going to be different… That goes without saying! Having a stoma at Christmas can also be a journey to navigate. This post will hopefully give you some hints for getting through the changes that the Christmas period can bring, whether new or well bedded in to stoma life! Staying away from home This Christmas may not fall into this category with the “bubbles” being in place & guidelines for the clinically vulnerable, but hopefully these are pointers that can be used for Christmas’s to come either way. You may feel nervous and apprehensive if you are staying away from home, or have loved ones over to stay that may not know too much about your stoma journey....